SOLUTION: John and Harvey sold widgets, Harvey sold 2 1/2 times as many widgets as John. If the difference in their sales was 87 units. How many widgets did each of them sell?

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Question 4768: John and Harvey sold widgets, Harvey sold 2 1/2 times as many widgets as John. If the difference in their sales was 87 units. How many widgets did each of them sell?
Answer by Abbey(339) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let x = the number of widgets that John sold
Let 2.5x= the number of widgets Harvey sold (2.5 times as many as John)
the difference indicates a subtraction problem:
2.5x-x=87
Combine like terms:
1.5x=87
Divide both sides by 1.5:
x=58
John sold 58 units, Harvey sold 145 units (2.5*58)
145-58=87 so this is correct.